The game has changed beyond recognition to that which I grew up with as a youngster. Of course there are aspects of the game which are much better today but I would say that they are more on the perifary than the actual game. The facilities at grounds are far superior, the state of the pitches have improved beyond recognition, the fitness of the players is much greater etc.
However, it is the deteriorating attitudes of the players and some of the rule changes that are causing the major problems. The game is virtually becoming a non contact sport. Tackles which were an everyday part of the game are now warranting yellow or red cards. The most innocuous of tackles is now worthy of a yellow card. The media are a major part of the problem as well by extolling the virtues of conning the referee. As for the feining of injuries, it has become farcical. I don't think that referees are of the quality that they used to be. Too soft on players who question decisions, too hard on harmless tackles and too influenced in favour of certain teams, managers and players. VAR should be confined to the history books and the only help that referees should receive is from the linesmen and goal line technology.
As for the rules, let's get back to the original handball rule which stated that for it to be an infringement it had to be that, in the opinion of the referee, the hand struck the ball and not the ball struck the hand. The offside rule is now ridiculous. Let's just state that there needs to be daylight between the attacker and the defender for an offside decision to be made. I could go on but let's leave it at that.